DR.john

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Medically reviewed by Aproko Doctor
Written by DR.john .

Is semen healthy to eat?

Semen is the fluid or casing that holds s***m. S***m is a cell that swims around in the fluid, ultimately trying to reach the egg and impregnate the female. Apart from its reproductive purposes, semen is quite nutritious and has a bunch of interesting properties. Studies show s***m may combat anxiety, depression & inflammation. Learn about all the health effects of ‘cumsumption’.

WARNING: This post is rated X, so make sure you’re over 18 and aren’t in the middle of eating. Also, while the research findings we discuss are legitimate, far more studies are needed before the health benefits of semen are found to be conclusive.

Health Benefits of Semen and S***m
Snapshot
PROS:
Highly nutritious
Contains beneficial hormones and antioxidants
May lower inflammation
May improve mental health
May boost fertility and libido
May prevent hair loss
CONS:
Not well studied
1) May be A Mood Enhancer
In a survey of 293 college women at SUNY Albany about in*******se with and without condoms, it was found that those who didn’t use condoms had lower levels of depression and better moods.

This is surprising because risky s*x (i.e., without condoms) is usually associated with negative self-esteem and depressed mood.

Among women who “always” or “usually” used condoms, about 20% reported suicidal thoughts, but among those who used condoms only “sometimes,” the figure was much lower at 7%. Among women who “never” used condoms, only 5% reported suicidal thoughts [1, 2].

Now it’s important to remember that correlation is not causation. So this does not necessarily imply eating semen will improve your mood. Further research is needed before we make any firm conclusions.

Semen contains many ingredients that could be responsible for this effect.

Probably the most significant one is Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which has potent antidepressant and cognitive-enhancing effects.

Semen also includes mood enhancers such as:

Oxytocin
Progesterone
Endorphins
Prolactin
TRH
Serotonin
Semen contains mood-enhancing hormones and compounds. Women who don’t use condoms tend to be less depressed.
2) May Reduce Anxiety
Semen includes anti-anxiety hormones such as oxytocin and progesterone. It also has serotonin.

Few people realize that a strong driving force of anxiety comes from oxidative stress, which is why it often goes along with “brain fog” and fatigue issues [3].

Semen contains a lot of antioxidants to combat oxidative stress.

Semen is rich in hormones and antioxidants that may protect against anxiety.
3) Combats Oxidative Stress
Semen contains a number of antioxidants such as [4, 4]:

Melatonin
SOD
Catalase
Glutathione peroxidase (GPx)
Glutathione
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Pyruvate
Carnitine
It also includes antioxidant hormones/peptides, such as NGF, oxytocin, and progesterone [5, 6].

Semen contains uric acid, which is also an antioxidant, but I don’t know if it’s in a meaningful concentration to be medically useful.

Semen contains many antioxidants that may combat oxidative stress in your body.
4) May Reduce Inflammation
Semen contains anti-inflammatories/immunosuppressants so that it’s not attacked when it enters the woman.

Nerve Growth Factor, oxytocin, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol, and certain prostaglandins are anti-inflammatory. TGF-beta in semen helps create tolerance to proteins.

Proteins and hormones in semen may lower inflammation.
5) Contains Many Healthy Hormones
Semen has many good hormones that people are often low in:

Oxytocin – has anti-anxiety properties and helps with wound healing [5]
Progesterone – has anti-anxiety properties [6]
Pregnenolone [6]
Melatonin [6]
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) [6]
Luteinizing hormone (LH) [6]
Testosterone – women can have too low or too high testosterone [6]
TRH – an anti-inflammatory and mood enhancer
Cortisol – can reduce inflammation and can be good in pulses [6]
Estrone, estrone sulfate – good if levels are too low [6]
Estrogen, Estradiol, Estriol [6]
DHEA [6]
DHT [6]
6) Contains Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) — a Cognitive Enhancer
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is important for the growth, maintenance, and survival of neurons, including the axons (the part where the electrical signal passes). It also promotes myelin repair, which is the coating around the axons.

Rita Levi-Montalcini won a Nobel Prize for discovering nerve growth factor and she used NGF eye drops to increase her lifespan and health.

NGF is abundant in semen. Recent studies have found that it induces ovulation (the release of the egg from ovaries) in some mammals, which can help with fertility.

Stress and anxiety decrease NGF. Low NGF levels are also found in atherosclerosis, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome [7].

NGF is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and may be helpful for a variety of conditions including depression, multiple sclerosis, and schizophrenia, among others.

In case you aren’t in the mood for swallowing cum, other good ways to enhance NGF include yoga (even a single 20-minute session) and falling in love [8, 9].

For the whole-fooders, green tea/EGCG and rosemary (carnosic acid) increase NGF [10, 11].

For the supplement junkies such as myself, my favorite substances to increase NGF include butyrate, zinc, lithium, berberine, PQQ, vitamin D, and melatonin.

Semen is rich in nerve growth factor (NGF), which protects your brain cells and boosts your cognition and mental health.
7) May Keep Infections at Bay
Semen contains many proteins with potent antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

8) May Increase Lifespan
Semen contains s***midine, which has been found to increase lifespan. S***midine also combats aging in yeast, flies, worms, and human immune cells by inducing autophagy.

S***midine is a longevity agent due to its ability to regulate gene expression.

Other good sources of s***midine include grapefruit juice and tempeh.

S***midine from semen may increase lifespan, but no clinical trials have confirmed this.
9) May Prevent Hair Loss
If the men haven’t been paying attention, I believe I now have your listening ears.

S***midine has been tested and discovered to encourage hair shaft elongation and lengthen hair growth. It also boosts stem cells that lead to hair growth.

10) May Increase S*x Drive
Semen contains testosterone [6].

Testosterone increases libido in both men and women.

Testosterone gets absorbed through a woman’s vaginal walls as well as through the digestive tract from the act of swallowing semen.

11) May Prevent Preeclampsia
Ingredients in semen such as TGF-beta can help induce oral tolerance.

When a woman swallows her partner’s semen, she will become tolerant to the proteins that are found in his s***m. This is thought to reduce the risk of preeclampsia [12].

A study shows that oral s*x and swallowing semen may help make a woman’s pregnancy safer and more successful [12].

TGF-beta might also enhance brain function. High blood levels of TGF-beta are associated with increased thickness in certain brain regions in healthy subjects [13].

TGF-beta and other semen ingredients help lower the risk of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia.
12) May Increase Fertility
Semen contains NGF, which increases fertility in mammals by increasing ovulation.

14) Contains Essential Nutrients
I’d like to mention that most of the nutrients aren’t in meaningful concentrations when you look at each nutrient alone, but on the whole (no pun intended), it’s pretty good.

For example, a normal semen ej*****te contains 0.56 mg of zinc, whereas the average person gets probably 20 times that in their daily diet.

However, since the body only absorbs 20% of dietary zinc, the requirements for zinc should theoretically increase by approximately 2.5 mg after each ej*******on. However, if you are injaculating or swallowing semen, you are able to reabsorb some of that zinc.

Zinc serves to help to stabilize the DNA-containing chromatin in the s***m cells. A zinc deficiency may result in lowered fertility because of increased s***m fragility. Zinc deficiency can also adversely affect s***m production.

Semen Nutrients:

POLLUTION ËFFẸ́ÇTṢ

The world oceans are a magical, diverse and abundant ecosystem that mankind needs in order to survive.

The ocean cover over 72 percent of the planet's surface, provide over 97 percent of the oxygen we breathe.

We have so much to thank the ocean for; however, they are threatened daily by natural and man made pollution. ocean pollution comes in many forms, but the largest factor affecting the oceans is plastic.

Over the last decades,we have produced more plastic than we have in the last 💯 years. This sharp increase in plastic entering our waters harms not marine life but also humanity.

Plastic kills 🎏, 🐦, marine mammals and sea turtles, destroys habitats and even affects animal's mating rituals, which can have devastating consequences and can wipe out entire species.

😍😘👉 DR.john 🙏🙏😭😰 please like, comment and share. Thanks you ❤️

Aproko Doctor
Animals
Oge Nsimah
Mic Diggy
Angela Nwosu
Norra Wilbor

FRUITS:

Definition of a fruit
A fruit is a mature fertilised o***y of a flower containing one or more seeds . However,in certain plants,e.g. banana and pineapple, fertilisation is not necessary for fruit formation.fruits which develop without fertilisation are known as PARTENOCARPIC FRUITS and they are often seedless. Generally, the result of pollination and fertilisation in flowers is the formation of fruits and seeds.

STRUCTURE OF A FRUIT
The structure of a typical fruit, e.g. mango =see diagram below
Is made up of an outer covering called the EPICARP, middle layer called the MESOCARP, and an inner layer called the ENDOCARP. within the ENDOCARP is the seed.s.

The epicarp,MESOCARP and ENDOCARP of a fruit is collectively called the PERICARP.
A fruit normally consist of the following parts

A= The fruit wall or PERICARP,
B= The seed or seeds inside the fruit,
C= The remains of the style or scar showing point of attachment of the fruit style,
D= The fruit stalk or scar showing point of attachment of the fruit to the plant.

THANK YOU PEOPLE OF SCIENCE KEEP FOCUSING.

AY COMEDIAN

Staph infections

By DR.john

Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria. These types of germs are commonly found on the skin or in the nose of many healthy people. Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or cause relatively minor skin infections.

But staph infections can turn deadly if the bacteria invade deeper into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart. A growing number of otherwise healthy people are developing life-threatening staph infections.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES OT HEADACHE:

What is the main cause of a headache?
Headache pain results from signals interacting among your brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. During a headache, multiple mechanisms activate specific nerves that affect muscles and blood vessels. These nerves send pain signals to your brain, causing a headache.

Good day world of science, focus!

HEADACHE:
BY DR.john

Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. The main symptom of a headache is pain in your head or face. There are several types of headaches, and tension headaches are the most common. While most headaches aren’t dangerous, certain types can be a sign of a serious underlying condition.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES:

What is the main cause of a headache?

Headache pain results from signals interacting among your brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. During a headache, multiple mechanisms activate specific nerves that affect muscles and blood vessels. These nerves send pain signals to your brain, causing a headache.

Good day world of science, focus!

Swollen ankles, feet and legs (oedema)
Swelling in the ankles, feet or legs often goes away on its own. See a GP if it does not get better in a few days.

Common causes of swollen ankles, feet and legs
Swelling in the ankles, feet and legs is often caused by a build-up of fluid in these areas, called oedema.

Oedema is usually caused by:

standing or sitting in the same position for too long
eating too much salty food
being overweight
being pregnant
taking certain medicines – such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, hormone therapy, antidepressants or steroids
Oedema can also be caused by:

an injury – such as a strain or sprain
an insect bite or sting
problems with your kidneys, liver or heart
a blood clot
an infection

Hello world of science, focus!

(THE CELL AND ITS ENVIRONMENT)
QUESTIONS FROM THE TOPIC ABOVE.
what is diffusion? Give an experiment to demonstrate diffusion in liquid. state the importance of diffusion to plants and animals.
WHAT IS DIFFUSION?
Definition: Diffusion is defined as the process by which molecules or ions of a substance (I.e. gasses and liquid) move from a low concentration until they are evenly distributed. The substance involved in Diffusion may be liquid, gasses or solid.
Experiment to Demonstrate Diffusion in Liquids: Take a beaker and fill it with distilled water.use pipette to deliver small quantity of potassium permanganate solution gently at the bottom of the beaker and leave it to stand few minutes. The purple colour of the potassium permanganate solution start to spread outside.
Eventually, the colour spreads evenly throughout the water medium so that the water have the same shade of purple colour.
Importance of diffusion to flowering plants: Diffusion is important to flowering plants in the following ways:
(A) Movement of carbon dioxide through the stomata of the leaves during respiration.
(B) There is movement of carbon dioxide through the stomata into the leaves during photosynthesis.
(C) Movement of oxygen into the leaves through the stomata during respiration.
(D) Water vapour leaving the leaves during transportation.
Importance of diffusion to animals:
Diffusion plays important roles in the life of animals through the following processes:
(A) There is intake of oxygen or nutrients from mother to foetus (embryo) through placenta.
(B) Gaseous exchange in mammals occurs in the lungs during respiration.
(C) Gaseous exchange in many cells and organisms e.g. Amoeba takes in oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide from the lungs capillaries into the air sac.

THANK YOU, WOULD OF SCIENCE KEEP FOCUSING (SCIENCE FOCUS)

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Where are the kidneys located, what do they do, and what do they look like?

DR.john

Location
Anatomy
Structure
Function
Diseases
Causes
Dialysis
Maintaining kidney health
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. The kidneys help remove waste products from the body, maintain balanced electrolyte levels, and regulate blood pressure.

The kidneys are some of the most important organs in the body. The ancient Egyptians left only the brain and kidneys in position before embalming a body, inferring that they held a higher value than other organs.

In this article, we look at the structure and function of the kidneys, the diseases that affect them, and how to keep them healthy.

Location:

The positioningTrusted Source of the kidneys is just below the rib cage, with one on each side of the spine. The right kidney is generally slightly lower than the left kidney to make space for the liver.

Each kidney is approximately 3 centimeters (cm) thick, 6 cm wide, and 12 cm long. In males, the average weightTrusted Source of the kidneys is roughly 129 grams (g) for the right one and 137 g for the left. In females, the average weightTrusted Source of these organs is 108 g for the right kidney and 116 g for the left kidney.

Structure
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that are roughly the size of a fist. A tough, fibrous renal capsule surrounds each kidney and provides support for the soft tissue inside. Beyond that, two layers of fat serve as further protection. The adrenal glands lie on top of the kidneys.

Inside the kidneys are a number of pyramid-shaped lobes. Each consists of an outer renal cortex and an inner renal medulla. Nephrons flow between these sections. Each nephron includes a filter, called the glomerulus, and a tubule. The glomerulus filters blood, which enters the kidneys through the renal arteries and leaves through the renal veins. The kidneys are relatively small organs, but they receive 20–25%Trusted Source of the heart’s output.

The tubule returns necessary substances to the blood and removes waste that then becomes urine. The kidneys excrete urine through the ureter, a tube that leads to the bladder.

Function
The main role of the kidneys is maintaining homeostasis. They manage fluid levels, electrolyte balance, and other factors that keep the internal environment of the body consistent and comfortable.

These organs carry out a wide range of bodily functions.

Waste excretion
The kidneys removeTrusted Source various waste products and get rid of them in the urine. Some major compounds that the kidneys remove are:

urea, which results from the breakdown of proteins
uric acid from the breakdown of nucleic acids
drugs and their metabolites
Reabsorption of nutrients
The kidneys reabsorbTrusted Source nutrients from the blood using tubules and transport them to where they will best support health. They also reabsorb other products to help maintain homeostasis. Reabsorbed products include:

glucose
amino acids
bicarbonate
water
phosphate
chloride, sodium, magnesium, and potassium ions
Maintaining pH
In humans, the range of acceptable pH levels is 7.35–7.45. At levels below or above this range, the body enters a state of acidemia or alkalemia, respectively. In these states, proteins and enzymes break down and can no longer function. In extreme cases, this can be fatal.

The kidneys and lungs help keep the body’s pH stable. The lungs achieve this by moderating the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood. The kidneys manage the pH by reabsorbing and producing bicarbonate from urine, which helps neutralize acids.

The kidneys can retainTrusted Source bicarbonate if the pH is tolerable and release it if acid levels rise. They can produce new bicarbonate by excretingTrusted Source acid.

Osmolality regulation
Osmolality is a measure of the body’s electrolyte-water balance, which is the ratio between fluids and minerals in the body. Dehydration is a primary cause of electrolyte imbalance.

If osmolality rises in the blood plasma, the hypothalamus in the brain responds by passing a message to the pituitary gland. This gland releases antidiuretic hormone (ADH). In response to ADH, the kidney makes several changes, including:

increasing urine concentration
increasing water reabsorption
reopening portions of the collecting duct that water cannot normally enter, allowing water back into the body
retaining urea in the medulla of the kidney rather than excreting it, as this compound draws in water
Regulating blood pressure
The kidneys regulate blood pressure when necessary, but they are responsible for slower adjustments.

They adjust long-term pressure in the arteries by causing changes in the fluid outside of cells. The medical term for this fluid is extracellular fluid. These fluid changes occur after the release of a vasoconstrictor called angiotensin II. Vasoconstrictors are hormones that cause blood vessels to narrow.

These hormones play a role in increasing the kidneys’ absorption of sodium chloride, or salt. This absorption effectively increases the size of the extracellular fluid compartment and raises blood pressure. Anything that alters blood pressure, including excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and obesity, can damage the kidneysTrusted Source over time.

Secretion of active compounds
The kidneys release several important compounds, including:

Erythropoietin: This controls erythropoiesis, which is the production of red blood cells. The liver also produces erythropoietin, but the kidneys are its main producers in adults.
Renin: This enzyme helps manage the expansion of arteries and the volumes of blood plasma, lymph, and interstitial fluid. Lymph is a fluid that contains white blood cells, which support immune activity, and interstitial fluid is the main component of extracellular fluid.
Calcitriol: This is the hormonally active metabolite of vitamin D. It increases both the amount of calcium that the intestines can absorb and the reabsorption of phosphate in the kidney.

Good day fan

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The medulla is the lowest part of the brain, also known as the medulla oblongata. It is present at the base of the brainstem, above the spinal cord.
The medulla oblongata has the shape of a pyramid and is divided into the dorsal and ventral medulla. The anterior surface of the medulla contains three fissures, which contain decussation of pyramids and olives between them. The posterior surface of the medulla oblongata contains a fissure, prominences, and relay nuclei.
The internal area of the medulla oblongata is divided into the basal area (ventral side), tectum (dorsal side), and tegmentum (central area). The nuclei are present in the dorsal medulla forming the white matter, including relay nuclei, cranial nerves nuclei, and reticular nuclei. The tracts are present in the ventral medulla forming the grey matter, including motor tracts and sensory tracts.
The medulla oblongata is responsible for the regulation of respiration, heart rate, and blood vessels diameter. It is also responsible for regulating the sensation in the oral cavity, thorax, head, and abdomen. In addition, the medulla also regulates swallowing, speech, salivation, peristaltic movement, phonation, and movement of the shoulder and head.
The cranial nerves that arise from the medulla oblongata are the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th cranial nerves. The junction of pons and medulla oblongata contains the 6th, 7th, and 8th cranial nerves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the medulla important for our survival?
The medulla is significant for the survival of human beings because it regulates autonomic functions such as heart rate, respiration, and blood vessel diameter.

Where is the medulla located and what is its function?
The medulla is located in the brainstem, where it helps in the regulation of respiration, heart rate, and blood vessels diameter. It also helps in actions such as swallowing, peristalsis, and speech.

What is the medulla part of?
The medulla is the lowest part of the brain present at the base of the brainstem. It is responsible for various brain activities that involve the autonomic nervous response, such as heart rate and respiration process.

What are 3 functions or responsibilities of the medulla?
The three functions of the medulla include the regulation of respiration, the regulation of heart rate and blood vessels by the vasomotor center, and the reflex actions such as swallowing by the cranial nerves.

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The Medulla at Work
Imagine this…you're walking through the Alaskan woods one beautiful day when you come around a corner, and Bam! You find yourself face-to-face with an enormous Kodiak bear! You might not realize it (probably because you're too concerned with the 1,500-pound bear standing in front of you), but your body jumps right into action.

Your heartbeat quickens to pump the extra oxygen (which your quickened breathing is now taking in) to your muscles so you can make a 'fight' (truly not recommended) or 'flight' decision. And, what's more, you have totally forgotten that urgent need to go to the bathroom that you had three seconds before meeting Yogi's giant cousin (thank goodness--what a terrible time to be stuck doing a bathroom dance!). All of these responses are due to your autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is, in part, controlled by your medulla oblongata. Thanks, medulla!

Course
59K views
Table of Contents
What is the Medulla?
Medulla Oblongata Location
Structure of the Medulla
Medulla Function: What Does the Medulla Control?
Medulla and Cranial Nerves
Lesson Summary
Show
What is the Medulla?
The medulla is the region that makes up the lowest of the three parts of the brainstem. It is also known as the medulla oblongata. It passes information between the higher-thinking centers of the brain and the spinal cord through the tracts within the medulla oblongata.

The medulla is responsible for regulating many autonomic functions, including respiration and the beating of the heart. Many reflex actions, swallowing and vomiting, are also regulated by the medulla oblongata.

Medulla Oblongata Location
The medulla oblongata is located at the base of the brainstem. Below the region of the medulla oblongata, the spinal cord begins. The opening through which the medulla and the spinal cord connect is the foramen magnum.

The structure present at the posterior surface of the medulla is known as the cerebellum, which is responsible for maintaining body balance. The cerebellar peduncle connects the cerebellum to the medulla oblongata. At the top of the medulla oblongata, a structure known as the pons is present in the brainstem. The pons works with the medulla oblongata to produce breathing rhythm during the respiration process.

The brainstem is home to the medulla oblongata.

Structure of the Medulla
The medulla oblongata has a pyramid-like structure. The maximum width of the medulla oblongata is about 2 centimeters, and its length is about 3 centimeters. The medulla oblongata is divided into the ventral and dorsal medulla. The inferior portion of the fourth ventricle of the brain is formed by the superior portion of the dorsal medulla. The dorsal medulla gives rise to four cranial nerves.

There are three fissures at the anterior surface of the medulla oblongata:

Anterior median fissure (present at the midline)
Posterolateral sulcus
Ventrolateral sulcus (away from the midline)
There are several pyramid-shaped tracts present in the ventral medulla between the ventrolateral and anterior median fissure. The corticobulbar tract and the corticospinal tract make this pyramid. The corticospinal tracts moved towards the spinal cord and make a decussation of pyramids at the lower medulla due to their crossed tracts. The ventrolateral and posterolateral contain the structure called olives between them.

The posterior median sulcus is present at the midline at the posterior surface of the medulla oblongata. The fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus separated by the posterior intermediate sulcus are two prominences away from the midline. The fasciculus gracilis contains a relay nucleus on its cranial side called the gracile nucleus that forms a synapse with the nerve fibers of the fasciculus gracilis. The gracile tubercle is a cranial enlargement formed by the gracile nucleus that can be seen on the dorsal surface of the medulla. The fasciculus cuneatus also contains a relay nucleus called the cuneate nucleus that forms an enlargement called cuneate tubercle that can be seen on the dorsal surface of the medulla. The trigeminal tubercle is another prominence present laterally to the cuneate nucleus.

The internal structure of the medulla
The medulla's internal structure is divided into three parts:

1.The basal area forms the ventral side of the medulla

contains the decussation of pyramids of the corticospinal tracts
Location

The medulla oblongata, also known just as the medulla, is part of your brainstem, which is literally the stem that extends from your brain. The medulla sits below the pons and above the spinal cord and is a major relay point for information going to and from your brain and spinal cord. In fact, its 'middle-man' position is actually reflected in its name, which means 'elongated' or 'oblong' (oblongata) 'middle' (medulla).

The medulla oblongata isn't just any run-of-the-mill middleman, though. In truth, the 'upper-management' of your brain couldn't function without this middleman coming to work every day to send messages back and forth between your brain and your body.

Function
So, what exactly does the medulla oblongata do? It's sort of a big answer. Your medulla directly controls many ANS responses, in addition to playing an accessory role in the control of certain areas of your body. It also has a stake in your overall major motor functions, or body movement. Let's take a moment to explore each of these functions in detail.

ANS Control
Your autonomic nervous system--in other words, your 'automated' nervous system--automatically responds to the situation you're in without you needing to think about it. It controls everything from the dilation of your pupils to your breathing pattern, heart contractions, and need to go to the bathroom. Can you imagine having to think about making all of those things happen, in the right order, at the right speed, and in a consistent pattern that considers your body's needs at the time? Yikes!

In addition to the functions already outlined, your medulla controls the following autonomic reflexes:

Blood vessel dilation to increase or decrease oxygen flow and respond to heart functions
Digestion to turn on or off digestion during 'fight or flight' scenarios
Sneezing and coughing to dispel foreign particles from your nose
Swallowing and vomiting to get rid of anything, such as bacteria, pathogens, or poisons that could harm you
Cranial Nerves
You have 12 pairs of cranial nerves, which control everything from the movements and reflexes of your eyes to your sense of smell, tongue movement, and sense of balance. These nerves leave your central nervous system at various locations.

The last seven pair of cranial nerves originate at either the junction between the pons and the medulla or directly through the medulla itself, meaning the medulla either plays an accessory role in conducting those signals or a direct role in controlling them. As a result, any damage to your medulla could result in damage to these nerves, which include the following:

6. The abducens nerve, which controls the muscles that 'abducts' your eyes, or rotates them away from the centerline of your body.

7. The facial nerve, which controls all your facial muscles.

8. The vestibulocochlear nerve, which transmits sound and a sense of equilibrium from your ear to your brain.

9. The glossopharyngeal nerve, which receives sensations and sends motor signals to the tongue and pharynx. This nerve also enables sense of taste and pharyngeal contractions for actions such as swallowing and interacts with your inner ear. This is one of the three nerves that plays a direct role in the medulla's ANS control of swallowing, coughing, sneezing, and vomiting.

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